Godlee Observatory

Godlee Observatory

Organization	Manchester Astronomical Society, University of Manchester
Location	Sackville Street Building, Manchester, England
Coordinates	53°28′34.12″N 2°13′57.52″W
Altitude	77.4 m (254 ft)
Telescopes
8" refracting telescope Grubb of Dublin 12" Newtonian reflector Grubb of Dublin
Location of Godlee Observatory
Related media on Commons

The Godlee Observatory is an old astronomical observatory located in a tower on the roof of the University of Manchester's Sackville Street Building, G floor (formerly UMIST Main Building), in the City Centre of Manchester, England. It was given to the city of Manchester by Francis Godlee when construction was completed in 1902.[1] The dome is constructed out of papier-mâché and is reached by an Edwardian era wrought iron staircase and a trap door.[2]

Godlee Observatory is home to two original telescopes made by Grubb of Dublin: a Newtonian telescope that uses a concave primary mirror and a flat diagonal secondary mirror, and a refracting telescope that uses a lens as its objective to form an image.[2] The observatory is operated by the Manchester Astronomical Society.[3]

As of November 2022, the Observatory is closed indefinitely due to redevelopment work on the North Campus of the University of Manchester.[4][3]

References

1. "The moon, the stars and the Godlee". BBC News. 20 July 2009.
2. "The hidden Manchester star gazing observatory with a papier-mache roof". The Manc. 13 September 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
3. "Manchester Astronomical Society". Manastro.org. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
4. "Godlee Observatory (closed for redevelopment)". Go Stargazing. Retrieved 14 March 2023.

External links

• On-line Tour of the Godlee Observatory
• The Manchester Astronomical Society
• Francis Godlee
• Sackville Street Building